Steps to Success

Lazy Leash improvement outside. Worked on keeping his focus on me from the very first step out the door. This helps.

Focus 6-8 seconds outside, 11 seconds inside

During play-time we practiced a happy ‘Off’ command, to help work on his shoe-delivery.

Social

Got him to sit under threshold as someone passed some 10 meters away. Kept feeding him very good treats. I had to pull F a little away at first (partly since the other person was pulling a trashcan down his driveway, and those are scary!), but after that we were able to be in training mode.

Obedience course Tuesday. I came out of it with a so-so feeling. Fenris kept getting locked in his sniffing, focusing on me for mere seconds, and then rushing off to smell stuff in the grass again. The time-management of my group wasn’t quite to my liking either. Yes, we sometimes remembered to set timers for the actual training – but in between the training sessions, all the discussion and help went to a single person, and that took so much time we only got three sessions each. (And the rain started on our last one.)

Control at the vet’s Monday. Fenris was an angel, and I put him in Settle position on the floor so the vet could check on his incision. She was very pleased with his behaviour and the progress, and his cone is now off. On the other hand, we have been advised that his weight is a little high, so we should switch to food appropriate for castrated dogs.

When we emerged from the vet’s office, someone else was on their way around our car to get in, and I asked them to wait a sec, because my dog was anxious. They stepped back (turned out they also had a cage with a cat), and I put Fenris in the car. Then I reflected on the fact that his body language hadn’t actually been anxious or triggered at all – it had been curious!

And then today he growled at someone walking away from us, and triggered at tractor, two cars with trailers, and after that even an ordinary car was a cue to chase. So life goes up and down.

Awesome Obedience

On the plus side, during the obedience course, when I DID get Fenris’ focus, we managed a full second’s perfect marking of the zen-bowl, so I’m happy about that. We also practiced heeling towards strangers and visible dogs. It was hard, but hey, practice.

Position Changes Down-Stands. Just muscle-memory work. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Today I started working on the backups from various positions as part of agility handling and obedience foundations. After some familiar reps, I started varying my own position, up to beside him (F on my left). Tried between my legs – and had a couple of false starts, before he caught on. I had to reward him a half-step in front of me, so that he would backup to Middle position, where he could look up at me. That’s decent progress, and I’ll take it.

Other stuff

Strength training. Such as running fetch, uphill.

Monthly box came Tuesday. Fenris is very happy with his new toy, and a big chewbone – and a bunch of yummy treats. (Oh, and the box.)